Shipping folders



Jan. 3, 1967 H. s. MEYERS 3,295,741

SHIPPING FOLDERS Filed June 1, 1965 INVENTOR Z/Z/ fi/IROLD 5. M'VEl-FSBY Mm aw ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,295,741 SPING FQLIJERSHarold S. Meyers, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper ProductsCompany, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed June 1, 1965,Ser. No. 460,351 2 Claims. (Cl. 2294tl) This invention relates to animprovement in shipping folders and in particular relates to corrugatedshipping folders for use in the high production packaging of an itemwith length and width but with minimal depth.

Many items which have length and width but which lack depth or thicknessmust be packaged for shipment. The shipping folder must fit snugly inall dimensions and lend itself to high volume use. For example, acoporation with thousands of stockholders may wish to mail the annualreport to each stockholder. It is desirable that the report arrive inthe hands of the stockholder in good condition, but it is also desirablethat the funds expended in packaging and mailing be kept at a minimum. Apackage which arrives in the hands of a party unsolicited, must beeasily opened. Provision has been made for any of several easy openingdevices in my present invention. Another example of the need for mypresent invention may be found in the phonograph record business. Inrecent years, record clubs have gained in popularity. The need for arecord shipping folder has grown with these clubs. The folder must fitsnugly around the record in length and width as well as in depth inorder to afford maximum protection during shipment.

It is an object of my present invention to supply a folder which may befolded to snugly enclose an item in length and width yet maintainminimum thickness.

Another object of my present invention is to supply a folder adaptablefor high speed production packaging.

A further object of my shipping folder resides in the incorporation ofan easy opening device which allows one to open the folder quicklywithout destroying the folder. Therefore, the folder may continue to beused to protect the item packed. An example of easy opening devices maybe found in U.S. Patents 2,706,076 and 3,141,598, both of which areassigned to Waldorf Paper Products Company.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the shipping folder in closedposition, the view showing the shipping folder closed by means of a tapeclosure.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the shipping folder showing the folderof FIGURE 1 in partially closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the shipping folder of FIGURE 1showing the shipping folder after the opening device has been removed toexpose the contents for easy removal.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the shippingfolder is formed.

The manner in which the shipping folder is made is best illustrated inFIGURE 4, the diagrammatic view of the blank from which the folder isformed. The folder includes back wall panel having opposed parallel sideedges and opposed parallel top and bottom edges. Side wall panels 11having opposed parallel side edges and opposed parallel top and bottomedges are hingedly connected along the side edges thereof to each sideedge of the back wall panel 10 along fold lines 12. Front wall flaps 13having opposed parallel side edges and opposed parallel top and bottomedges are hingedly connected along the side edges thereof to the sideedges 3 ,295,741 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 of each side wall panel 11 alongfold lines 14. Front wall flaps 13 have a portion of the flap cut away15 for easy removal of the item packed within the shipping folder. Topwall panel 16 having opposed parallel first and second side edges andopposed parallel end edges is hingedly connected along the first sideedge thereof to the top edge of the back Wall panel 10 along fold line17. Bottom wall panel 18 having opposed parallel first and second sideedges and opposed parallel end edges is hingedly connected along thefirst side edge thereof to the bottom edge of back Wall. panel 10 alongfold line 19.

Top closure flap 20, having opposed parallel first and second side edgesand opposed parallel end edges is hingedly connected along the firstside edge thereof to the second side edge of top wall panel 16 alongfold line 21. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, an adhesive22 is pre-applied adjacent the second side edge and on the inside facingsurface of top closure flap 20. Any of several adhesives or methods maybe used. For example a water activated adhesive may be used or aconventional hide glue adhesive applied immediately prior to sealing theshipping folder for ship ment. An easy opening device 23 is located ontop closure flap 20 lying between fold line 21 and parallel thereto andadhesive strip 22. The easy opening device is located so that when thetop closure flap 20 is opened the contents of the shipping folder areexposed for easy removal. The easy opening device 23 consists of spacedside by side weakened parallel lines in the inner liner, the weakenedlines located transverse to the corrugations so that by grasping the endA of the easy opening device and pulling outwardly, the inner liner willrip through the corrugated medium and outer liner and form a continuoustear strip, thereby opening the shipping folder.

Bottom closure flap 24 having opposed parallel first and second sideedges and opposed parallel end edges is hingedly connected along thefirst side edge thereof to the second side edge of bottom wall panel 18along fold line 25. In the preferred embodiment an adhesive 22 ispro-applied adjacent the second side edge and on the inside facingsurface of bottom closure flap 24.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of the shipping folder in partiallyclosed position. Top and bottom closure flaps 20 and 24, respectively,are shown, with p-re-applied adhesive strips 22 in position, immediatelyprior to sealing the shipping folder.

Front wall flaps 13 are shown abutting relation; in position to receivethe top and bottom closure flaps 20 and 24 which will be folded intoface contact with the front wall flaps and sealed thereto. The easyopening device 23 on the top closure flap is superimposed on the cutawayportion 15 of the front wall flaps 13 so that when the folder is openedthe cutaway portion is exposed.

FIGURE 1 shows the shipping folder ready for shipment. This perspectivedrawing shows an alternate method of sealing the shipping folder. A tapeB, such as water activated paper tape, is applied to the outsidesurfaces of top and bottom closure flaps after the flaps have beenfolded inwardly into edge abutting relation and into face contact withfront wall flaps 13. The tape B is placed on the surface adjacent thesecond side edges of the flaps which, in closed position, are in edgeabutting relation.

FIGURE 3 shows the shipping folder with the easy opening tear stripremoved. The shipping folder in the drawing shows the alternate tapeclosure. Also shown is the cutaway portion 15 of the front wall flaps 13for the easy removal of the item packed. The tea-r strip is posifoldedinwardly into edge tioned so that when removed the entire cutawayportion is exposed when the top closure flap is lifted upwardly.

In operation the shipping folder is placed in the production line asshown in FIGURE 4. In automated packaging the direction of travel of thefolder is typically that of following a front wall flap B. The item tobe packaged is first placed on back wall panel which should correspondto the length and width of the item being packed.

As the folder and item progress through the automatic packaging process,side wall panels 11, having a depth equal to the depth of the item beingpackaged, are plowed upwardly. Front wall flaps 13 are then plowedinwardly, into face contact with the item being packed, and into edgeabutting relation. Simultaneously, the adhesive strip 22 may beactivated or applied by utilizing rollers which effect a straight linegluing pattern. Top and bottom wall panels 16 and 18 having a depthequal to the depth of the item being packed plus the thickness of thefolder material, are plowed upwardly. Top and bottom closure flaps 20and 24 are then folded inwardly, into edge abutting relation, and intoface contact with front wall flaps 13, thereby sealing the folder forshipment.

The alternate method, taping the top and bottom closure flaps together,may, of course, be utilized, as well as a manual packing procedureutilizing either a pro-applied adhesive or a tape closure.

The shipping folder of my present invention may be reused since thefolder is not destroyed when opened. This is true whether the topclosure flap 20 and bottom closure flap 24 are secured by tape or byglue. As seen in FIGURE 3, the easy opening device is removed yet thefolder remains intact for future use to protect the item which wasshipped.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in shipping folders; andwhile I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, Idesire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within thescope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

1. A shipping folder for use in shipping and storage including:

a back wall panel having opposed parallel side edges and opposedparallel top and bottom edges,

side wall panels having opposed parallel first and second side edges andopposed parallel top and bottom edges hingedly connected along the firstside edge thereof to the side edges of said back Wall panel, each ofsaid side wall panels folded upwardly from said back wall panel,

front wall flaps hingedly connected to each second side edge of saidside wall panels and folded inwardly into edge abutting relation andinto spaced parallel relation with said back wall panel, said front wallflaps when in edge abutting relation including a generally rectangularlyshaped cutaway portion bounded on the sides by side out linescommunicating with the upper edges of said front wall flaps and spaced asubstantial distance from the side edges of said front wall flapsparallel thereto, and on the bottom by a bottom cut line parallel to thetop edge of said front wall flaps and intersecting the side cut lines,

top and bottom wall panels having opposed parallel first and second sideedges and opposed parallel end edges hingedly connected along the firstside edges thereof to the top and bottom edges of said back wall paneland folded upwardly,

a top closure flap having opposed parallel first and second side edgesand opposed parallel end edges hingedly connected along the first sideedge thereof to the second side edge of said top wall panel and foldedinwardly into face contact with said front wall flaps including meansfor severing said top closure flap along a line parallel to a side edgethereof, said last named line being a substantial distance from thesecond side edge and substantially superimposed on the bottom cut lineof said front wall flaps when overlying said front wall flaps, and

a bottom closure flap having opposed parallel first and second sideedges and opposed parallel end edges hingedly connected along the firstside edge thereof to the second side edge of said bottom wall panel andfolded inwardly into face contact with said front wall flaps and intoedge abutting relation with said top closure flap,

means for securing said top and bottom closure flaps in face contactwith said front wall flaps,

the portion of said top closure flap between said severing means and thesecond side edge of said top wall panel adapted to be in unsecuredrelation to said front wall flaps when said top closure flap is severed,and

the portion of said top closure flap between said severing means and thesecond side edge of said top closure flap adapted to remain in securedrelation to said front wall flaps when said top closure flap is severed.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said means for securing saidtop and bottom closure flaps includes an adhesive strip of substantialwidth parallel and adjacent to the second side edge of said top closureflap adhered to said front wall flaps below the bottom cut line, and anadhesive strip of substantial width parallel and adjacent to the secondside edge of said bottom closure flap adhered to said front wall flaps.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 958,785 5/1910Van Riper 22976 1,930,896 10/1933 Hause et al 22987 X 2,005,967 6/ 1935Berdan 22987 2,928,582 3/1960 Klein 22940 X 3,141,598 7/1964 Rasmussenet a1 22951 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

1. A SHIPPING FOLDER FOR USE IN SHIPPING AND STORAGE INCLUDING: A BACKWALL PANEL HAVING OPPOSED PARALLEL SIDE EDGES AND OPPOSED PARALLEL TOPAND BOTTOM EDGES, SIDE WALL PANELS HAVING OPPOSED PARALLEL FIRST ANDSECOND SIDE EDGES AND OPPOSED PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES HINGEDLYCONNECTED ALONG THE FIRST SIDE EDGE THEREOF TO THE SIDE EDGES OF SAIDBACK WALL PANEL, EACH OF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS FOLDED UPWARDLY FROM SAIDBACK WALL PANEL, FRONT WALL FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO EACH SECOND SIDEEDGE OF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS AND FOLDED INWARDLY INTO EDGE ABUTTINGRELATION AND INTO SPACED PARALLEL RELATION WITH SAID BACK WALL PANEL,SAID FRONT WALL FLAPS WHEN IN EDGE ABUTTING RELATION INCLUDING AGENERALLY RECTANGULARLY SHAPED CUTAWAY PORTION BOUNDED ON THE SIDES BYSIDE CUT LINES COMMUNICATING WITH THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID FRONT WALLFLAPS AND SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM THE SIDE EDGES OF SAIDFRONT WALL FLAPS PARALLEL THERETO, AND ON THE BOTTOM BY A BOTTOM CUTLINE PARALLEL TO THE TOP EDGE OF SAID FRONT WALL FLAPS AND INTERSECTINGTHE SIDE CUT LINES, TOP AND BOTTOM WALL PANELS HAVING OPPOSED PARALLELFIRST AND SECOND SIDE EDGES AND OPPOSED PARALLEL END EDGES HINGEDLYCONNECTED ALONG THE FIRST SIDE EDGES THEREOF TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGESOF SAID BACK WALL PANEL AND FOLDED UPWARDLY, A TOP CLOSURE FLAP HAVINGOPPOSED PARALLEL FIRST AND SECOND SIDE EDGES AND OPPOSED PARALLEL ENDEDGES HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG THE FIRST SIDE EDGE THEREOF